Adjustable strap-attaching means for button-loops, buckels, etc.



R. J. HODGE ADJUSTABLE STRAP-ATTACHING MEANS FOR BUTTON-LOOPS, BUCKLES ETC Aug. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1950 Aug. 25, 1953 R. J. HODGEI ADJUSTABLE STRAF-ATTACHING MEANS FOR BUTTON-LOOPS, BUCKLES, ETC Filed Nov. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 25, 1953 ADJUSTABLE STRAP-ATTACHING MEANS FOR BUTTON-LOOPS, BUCKLES, ETC.

Robert J. Hodge, West Haven, Conn.

Application November 18, 1950, Serial N 0. 196,417 (Cl. 24 200) 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates in general to strap-end devices and more partic larly to St apend devices having improved means for adjusting the latter relative to a strap on which they are mounted, the strap-end devices being buttonbuckles, adjusting-slides and other devices of this type. The invention further resides in an improved method for forming superior adjustingmeans on strap-end devices of the type hereinabove mentioned.

An object of the invention is to provide a strapend device with superior adjusting-means for connecting the strap-end device to a strap for adjustment relative thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strap-end device with superior adjustingmeans of simple, durable and economical construetion.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a superior method for forming strapadjusting means on a strap-end device.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a strap-end'device having the improved adjusting-means of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the strap-end device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation in section of the strapend device on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the strap-end device including a strap threaded thereon;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the strap-end device and strap in section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the strap-end device on section line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a strap-end adjusting-slide;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the strap-end adjusting-slide of Fig. '7; and

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the strap-end adjusting-slide of Fig. 7, and a button-loop as sembled on the end of a strap.

The showing of Figs. 1 through 6 inclusive Referring to the drawings, the strap-end device illustrated therein is a button-buckle which is adapted to be adjustably secured to the end of a strap and to engage with a button. To these ends, the buckle comprises, in the main, a

substantially-rectangular frame which is formed of a relatively inexpensive material such as, for example, thin sheet metal or a suitable plastic, and embodies two transversely-spaced substantially-parallel side-bars l5-I5, between the upper ends of which extend a plurality of transverse crossbars l6, l1 and I8 respectively arranged in substantially-parallel relationship and joined integrally at their opposite ends to the respective side-bars l5-I5. The lower ends of the side-bars l5-l5 are joined integrally with the bottom portion ll! of the frame which is provided with a substantially T-shaped buttonreceiving aperture indicated generally at 20, adapted to engage over a button to secure the buckle thereto, the T-shaped button-receiving aperture 20 having ears 2l2| bent backwardly from the plane of the buckle, in the manner shown especially well in Fig. 3, to facilitate engaging the buckle on a button.

The aforementioned crossbars I6, ll have oppositely-disposed lips 22 and 23 respetcively which, pursuant to the objects of this invention, have toothed edges facing toward each other, each toothed lip comprising a set of teeth which constitutes an element of the strap-end adjusting-means of the buckle. The toothed lip 22 of the upper crossbar I6 is preferably shorter than the toothed lip 23 of the intermediate crossbar [1, so as to provide clearance-apertures 24-24 at opposite ends thereof respectively to facilitate threading a strap-end between the toothed lips 22 and 23. The set of teeth of the lip-portion 22 of the upper crossbar l6 correspond in size and shape to the set of teeth of the lip-portion 23 of the intermediate crossbar l'l, while the apices of the set of teeth of the upper toothed lip 22 are substantially directly opposite the notches formed between each successive pair of teeth in the lip-portion 23 of the intermediate crossbar,

both the apices of the teeth and the bottoms of the oppositely-disposed notches being coincident with a common plane extending transversely of the buckle and substantially perpendicular to the face thereof, i. e., there is substantially no spacing of the apices of one set of teethand the bottoms of the oppositely-disposed notches of the second set of teeth longitudinally of the buckle. For purposes of clarification, the phrase longitudinally of the buckle or longitudinally of the slide shall be understood to mean in the direction of an axis extending from the top side to the bottom side of the buckle or slide. Further, as shown especially well in Fig. 3, the toothed lips 22 and 23 respectively of the upper crossbar form either toothed lip in the plane of the buckle" and to offset the other therefrom;

The lower edge of the intermediate cressbar I! is also provided with a toothed lip indicated at 25, the set of teeth of which facetow'air'd andcorrespond in size and configuration to the set efteeth of the toothed lip 26 of the lowermost crossbar I 8. The sets of teeth of the lips ZFPaMd ZS' respectively are, however, much smaller than the teeth of the aforementioned toothed lips 22 and 23" respectively of the upper crossbar and intermediate crossbar. Like the set of teeth of the toothed lip 23 of the intermediate crossbar H, the set of teeth of the toothed lip 25 lies in the plane of the intermediate crossbar which, as set forth above, is offset forwardly of the plane of the buckle. The set of teeth of the toothed hp 2% of the lowermost crossbar I8 is preferably bent outwardly from the plane of the frame, in the manner illustrated especially well in Figs. 1, 2 and so that there is vertical spacing between the apices of the .set of teeth of the toothed lip 25 and the oppositely-disposed notches of the set of teeth of the toothed lip 26. As in the construction of the upper set of teeth, the lower set of teeth terminates short of the ends of the respective toothed lips 25 and 26 respectively so as to provide strap-end clearance-apertures 21-21 to facilitate inserting a strap-end therebetween.

The preferred method of forming the buckle is by a series of blanking operations wherein the buckle is blanked out of substantially flat sheet metal and formed initially with a peripheral flange 28 which circumscribes the blank and. extends rearwardly from the front face thereof. Following the blanking and fia-nging operation, the portion of the blank included between the intermediate and lower crossbars J7 and [8 respectively and the side-bars is blanked out to form the pair of opposed sets of teeth on the toethed, lips 25 and 26 respectively; and the clearanceapertures 21-4! at opposite ends thereof. Thereupon, the portion of the blank includedbetween the set of teeth of the lower toothed lip 25 of the intermediate crossbarl Lthe upper crossbar l6 and the two side-bars is offset rearwardly from the plane of the blank,- after which the pair of opposed sets of teeth of the toothed lips 22 and 2 3 are blanked out substantially simultaneously, each set of teeth being produced by a single serrated shearing out extendingv transversely of the blank whereby the teeth of each respective set of teeth are formed without removing any metal from the blank. Simul= taneously, the clearance-apertures 24-24 are formedat oppositeends respectively of the pair of sets of teeth. Thereafter, the portion of. the blank corresponding to the intermediate crossbar I] and including the sets of teeth of the toothed lips 23 and 25, is offset forwardly relative to the plane of the blank to effect therelationship between the apices of the set of teeth'jof the toothed lip 22 andthe oppositely disposed notches of the set 9f teeth of the toothed lip 23 herein 4 above described; the set of teeth of the toothed lip 26 of the lower crossbar l8 being subsequently bent outwardly at an oblique angle with respect to the set of teeth of the toothed lip 25 of the intermediate crossbar IT, as illustrated especially well in Figs. 2 and 3. The T-shaped buttonreceiving aperture 20 in the lower portion of the blank may be produced simultaneously with the formation of the toothed-- lips or in a subsequent operation.

Although other sequences of operations may be used to form the buckle, the method for forming a the sets of teeth of the toothed lips 22 and 23 is characterized by forming both sets of teeth simultaneously in the same plane by a single serrated cut and then offsetting one set of teeth with respect to the other, in a manner such that there is subsantially no clearance longitudinally of the biiekle be'tween the apices of the set of teeth of the toothed lip 22 and the bottoms of the oppositely disposed notches in the set of teeth of the toothed. lip 23. v

To attach the buckle to a strap 29, the free end. of the latter is inserted up between the sets of teeth of the toothed lips 22 and 23 respectively from theb'aek sideiof the buckle. The free end; of the strap is then turned down and insertedbetween the set 'of teeth of the toothed lips. 25; and 26 respectively and drawn therethrough to the back side of the buckle. Thus, a loop 30 of fabric .is formed on the front side of the buckle and this loop of fabric is made of sufficient lengthso that its folded end may be inserted into the Wide portion of the T-shaped button-receiving aperture 20 and drawn therethrough to the back side of the buckle, as shown especially well in- Fi I With the strap threaded onto the buckle in-this manner, the strap is drawn tautly over the set of teeth of the toothed lips 22 and 23 of the upper and intermediate crossbars respectively; the re-; lationship between the apices of the teeth ofthe toothed lip 22 and the notches between successive teeth of I the toothed lip 23' being suchthat the 7 strap is bent thereover in an extremely sharp substantially S-shaped curve, whereby the buckle is positively held in itsadjusted position on the strap against longitudinal movement relati-ve thereto. Moreover; by threading the tree end-of the strap through the toothed lips 25 and zfi and the resulting loop 33 through the T-shaped button-aperture, the portion of the strap which is threaded between teeth of the upper set of toothed lips is held tau-t thereby preventing disengagement therefrom. It is. also noteworthy that should the free end of the strap be extremely long, then this length is successfully taken up by threading itthrough thelowerset of teeth of the buckle and threading the resulting loop through the T-shaped button-receiving aperture. Moreover, the outwardly-bent toothed lip ofthe lower set of teeth may be bent inwardly to grip the strap-end more or less permanently.

Thesheitiz'ng of Figs; 7 through 9 inclusive In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 is showna strap-ad usting slide which is indicated generally at 3!, and.mbodies the improved adjusting-means of this iii-1 vention, the slide being shcwfi a strap 32 is provided-at its lower end with a button-engagingloop33 hi Referring especially to Figs. 7 and 9 thestrap; adjusting slide 3 I, comprises a, substantially ree-; tangular sheetmetal member havingoppeeiitely disposed. Sides. eonn ctedb a ural ye.--

the crossbar 36,and the set of teeth of the toothed lip 4| are offset forwardly thereof. The over-all length of the toothed lip 40 corresponds substantially to the over-all length of the toothed lip 4|, both toothed lips being shorter than the transverse lengths of th corresponding crossbars so as to provide clearance-apertures 4242 at opposite ends thereof respectively to facilitatethreading a strap-end therebetween.

The apices of the set of teeth of the toothed lip 40 are substantially opposite the bottoms of the notches between successive teeth of the toothed lip, both the apices of the teeth of the toothed lip 4|] and the bottoms of the notches of the toothed lip 4| being coincident with a plane extending transversely of the slide and substantially perpendicular to the front face thereof, that is to say, there is substantially no spacing of the apices of the teeth of the toothed lip 40 and the bottoms of the oppositely-disposed notches of the toothed lip 4| longitudinally of the slide.

The bottom edge of the crossbar 36 is also provided with a set of teeth on a toothed lip indicated at 43, the teeth of which face toward and correspond in size and configuration to the set of teeth of a toothed lip 44 provided on the upper edge of the crossbar 31. The sets of teeth of the toothed lips 43 and 44 are, however, much smaller than the teeth of the aforementioned toothed lips 40 and 4|. Like the set-of teeth of the toothed lip 4| of the crossbar 36, the set of teeth of the toothed lip 44 lies in the plane of the crossbar 35, which, as set forth above, is offset forwardly of the plane of the slide. However, the toothed lip 44 of the crossbar 31 is preferably bent forwardly of the plane thereof in the manner shown in Fig. '7, so that, in effect, there is vertical spacing between the apices of the teeth of the toothed lip 43 and the bottoms of the oppositely-disposed notches of the set of teeth of the toothed lip 44. Moreover, the toothed lips 43 and 44 are shorter than the corresponding crossbars 36 and 31 so as to provide clearance-apertures 45-45 at opposite ends thereof respectively to facilitate threading a strap-end therein. Formed between the crossbar 3! and the lowermost crossbar 38 is an elongated aperture 46 through which a strap-loop is adapted to be threaded as hereinafter described.

The strap-adjusting slide 3| is formed substantially in the manner by which the aforementioned button-buckles are made, the characteristic steps of the successive blanking operations being the initial step of blanking out the portion of the frame between the two central crossbars 36 and 31 and the side-bars 3434 to form the pair of opposed sets of teeth of the toothed lips 43 and 44 respectively and the clearance-apertures 45-45 at opposite ends thereof. 'I'hereupon, the portion of the blank included between the lower set of teeth of the toothed lip 43 of the central crossbar 36 and the upper crossbar 35 is offset rearwardly of the front face of the slide and thereupon the toothed lip-portion 40-4| is blanked out by producing a serrated cut across the corresponding part of the blank, after which the crossbar 36 is offset forwardly of the front face of the slide. Thus, the apices of. the teeth of? the toothed lip 40 are substantially opposite the bottoms of the notches between successive teeth of the toothed lip 4| of the crossbar-33, both the apices of the upper teeth and the notchesof the oppositely-disposed teeth being coincident with a transverse plane substantially, perpendicular. to

the front face of the slide, that is to say, there is substantially no spacing between the apices. of the.

teeth of the toothed lip. -40and thebottomsiof the notches between successive teethof the toothed.

lip 4|,longitudinally of the slide.. After the cen-' tral crossbar 36 including the set of teeth ofits toothed lip 43 has been offset forwardly, the lower set of teeth of the toothed lip 44 is bent forwardly and outwardly, in the manner shown especially.v

whereupon theend of vthe strap is passed through. the button-loop 33 and then bent down and.

threaded between the sets of teeth of the toothed lips 43 and 44 to the backside of the slide,..thus.

forming a loop 41 on the front side of the slide in the lower end of which the button-loop 33 is suspended. Thereafter, the button-loop 33 and the corresponding end of the strap-loop 41 are inserted into the elongated aperture 46 of the slide and drawn therethrough to the back side thereof, in the manner shown in Fig. 9. The button-loop 33 is thus suspended securely from the lower end of the strap-loop 41, the toothed lips 40 and 4| of the slide serving not only to make adjustments in the length of the strap-loop but also to positively hold the free end of the strap from sliding out of the button-loop.

Although the toothed lips 43 and 44 are shown in spaced relationship so that the strap-end may be readily threaded therethrough, it is within the purview of the invention to bend in the lower toothed lip 44 to grip the strap and hence form a permanent hold thereon.

The salient features which characterize the adjustable strap-attaching means of the strap-end devices shown and described herein are the toothed lips which are offset with respect to the plane of the strap-end device, but with substantially no spacing between the apices of the teeth of one lip and the bottoms of the notches of the opposite toothed lip longitudinally of the strapend device; and the method whereby the toothed lips are blanked and formed without the removal of the material of the blank, thus providing a superior form of strap-end device of durable and economical construction.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A fastening device for straps comprising a frame having a pair of side bars interconnected by a top member and a bottom member and by a pair of transverse crossbars, the crossbar adjacent said top member being offset forwardly to adjustably receive a strap therearound, the strap being inserted from the rear between the top member and said offset crossbar with the amass? freeend of the strap inserted rearwardiy between the cflisei; erossbar and theother crossbar and with the portion thus defined being inseated rear-wardiy between said. other crossbar and said bottom member, and means for retaining the strap in adjusted positions comprising on posed rows-of vteeth on the adjacentr edges of said top member and said offseticrossbar and opposed rows of teeth on the-adjacent edges of saiderossbars, the teeth apices and notches in the-opposed rows on said to member and said o-fi'set crossbar being oppositely disposed and arranged in planes extending generally transversely of the frame and substantially perpendicular to the plane thereof, and said other crossbar being bent forwardly adjacent its row of teeth to position said row forwardly of said offset crossbar.

2. A fastening device for straps comprising a frame having a pair of side bars interconnected by atop member and a bottom member and by a 20 pair of transverse .crossbars, the crossbar adjacent said top member being offset forwardly to adjustably receive a strap therearound, the strap being inserted from the rear between the top member and said offset crossbar with the free end 8 of the strapinserted rearwardly between the ofliset crossbar and the other crossbar and with the looped portion thus defined being inserted rear-- wardly between said other crossbar-and said bot-- tom member, and means for retaining the strap in adjusted positions comprising opposed rows of teeth on the adjacent edges of said top memberand said ofiset crossbar and opposed rows of teeth on the adjacent edges of said erossbars, said other crossbar being bent forwardly adjacent its row-of teeth to position said row forwardly of said 01%- set crossbar.

ROBERT J. HODGE'.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date.

3 004 Gath ie --.-.e u June l3,, .fl99 662, 71 Gathrig-ht OW 27, 93 677,086 Jones M, H June 25, 1991. 871,981 Blum Nov! 26 1907 1,276,806 Pfannenmuller Aug. 27 1,918 1,908,209 Adams .i, e- May 9 1933 2292,899 Sanford Aug. l1, 1.942 

